Bishop Challoner's Meditations - Low Sunday

ON THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Consider first, that we are often put in mind by the church in the office of this time of our baptism, to the end we may be rightly sensible of the dignity to which we have been raised by this sacrament, and of the obligations incumbent upon us in consequence of the same. Baptism is to our souls the gate of life - an introduction to all that is good. It is called by the Apostle, Tit. iii. 5, ‘the laver of re-generation and renovation of the Holy Ghost:’ inasmuch as we, who by our natural birth from the old Adam were born in sin, children of wrath, slaves of Satan, and liable to an eternal damnation, are cleansed from sin and sanctified in this sacrament, 'by the laver of water in the word of life,’ Eph. v. 26, in virtue of the blood of Christ here applied to our souls; and by virtue of the same we receive a new birth, by which we are regenerated and renewed, 'being born again of water and the Holy Ghost,’ John iii. 5, to a new and everlasting life, and are made children of the living God, and heirs to his eternal kingdom. See, my soul, and admire the riches of the bounty of thy God, poured out in thy favour, in this sacrament. But O! take care never to forfeit these excellent treasures by sin, nor to degenerate from this heavenly birth by an unworthy conversation.

Consider 2ndly, that by baptism we are incorporated in Christ and made living members of his mystical body, which is his church; we are made Christians, brethren of Christ, and temples of his Holy Spirit; we who before ‘were not his people, are now the people of God,’ 1 Pet. ii. 10, 'a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people, called out of darkness into the admirable light of Christ,’ v. 9. We are dedicated, sanctified, and consecrated to God by this sacrament, to be irrevocably his, eternally devoted to his divine love. O happy dedication! O my soul, how little hast thou hitherto reflected on these truths! How little hast thou considered the dignity conferred upon thee in baptism! O remember, that what is once dedicated to God ought to remain always his, and that it is a sacrilege to profane or violate what is once consecrated to him. See then how pure and holy thy whole life ought to be, in consequence of thy being dedicated to God in baptism.

Consider 3rdly, that ‘all we who are baptized in Christ Jesus are baptized in his death, for we are buried together with him by baptism unto death: that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life,’ Rom. vi. 3, 4. 'Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, and that we may serve sin no longer,’ vi. 6, so that henceforward, in consequence of our baptism, ‘we must reckon ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord,’ vi. 11, and therefore, 'we must not let sin reign in our mortal body, so as to obey the lusts thereof,’ vi. 12. But as ‘Christ rising again from the dead dies no more, as death shall no more have dominion over him,’ vi. 9, so we must now die no more by sin, sin must no more have dominion over us. For 'as many of us as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ,' Gal. iii. 27, and ought to live so as to show forth the life of Christ in our mortal flesh, that we may be able to say too with the apostle; 'I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me,' Gal. ii. 20. Christians, compare your lives with these divine lessons; see what they ought to be, by the obligation of your baptism, and see what they have hitherto been; and now at least, labour in earnest to begin to live worthily of your calling, and of the glorious name and character of a Christian, and of a child of God.

Conclude to bear always in mind both the dignity to which you have been raised by your baptism, and the obligation of it; and ever to show forth in your lives that you are Christians indeed, by a constant imitation both of the death and resurrection of the Son of God.